Fire preventing device for moving picture machines



New, 1, 1932., J, C1, EiL, 1,8%,043

FIRE PREVENTING DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES Filed Jan. 21, 1930 5 Siwets-Sheat l L 79W. 4: o O 0 6X 0 3 o :56 6 a 7 z 56 I o Q l a 4 [nuenior why, A' ZZ A itomey NQWO 11, 19329 J, c, PFEHL 1,886,043

FIRE PREVENTING DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES Filed Jan. 21. 1930 5 Sneaks-Sheet 2 Invenior A tiomey Nova 1 1932:. Q, PFEEL, 886,023

FIRE PREVENTING DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES Filed Jan. 21,, 1930 s Shams-Sheet 5 1 inuenior JW/(j W25 A itomey mm 1 1932; J c, gL, 1,886,,4-3

FIRE PREVENTING DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES Filed Jan. 21., 1930 5 Sweats-Sheet 4 In ven'ior A iiomey Nov. 1, 1932. .1. c. PFEIL 1,836,043

FIRE PREVENTING DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES Filed Jan. 21, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Attorney Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN C. PFEIL, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VERNON F. SCOTT, OF J OHN STOWN, PENNSYLVANIA FIRE PREVENTING DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES Application filed January 21, 1930. Serial No. 422,362.

This invention relates to moving picture projecting machines within which a strip of highly inflammable film is moved rapidly and intermittedly past an apertured plate where a gjconcentrated beam of light from an are or incandescent lamp is played thereon in a manner to project the picture image on said film to a suitable screen.

As is well known, the beam of light is extremely hot at the point where it strikes the film and the portions of the mechanism directly adjacent the aperture through which beam passes to the film and said film is prevented from being ignited only by the rapidity with which it passes the light beam. If, for any reason, such as breaking of the film or failure of the actuating mechanism, said film remains stationary and exposed to the light beam for an undue length of time,

the film ignites and at least a portion thereof is destroyed with great liability of damaging theprojecting machine.

An important object of this invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a fire preventing device for moving picture machines of the aforementioned character which will function automatically to dowse the beam of light at a point intermediate its source and the film whenever said film stops traveling through the machine in the proper manner.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a fire preventing device for moving picture machines which will automatically deenergize the drivin motor which operates the film actuating mec anism should the travel of said film through the mechanism be stopped or interrupted or upon failme of the driving mechanism itself from any cause.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a fire preventing device for moving picture machines of the character set forth which may be expeditiously mounted for use on projecting machines which are already in use without the necessity of materially altering the same in order that this may be accom lished.

Another important 0 ject of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a fire preventing device for moving picture machines including an electric circuit in which is interposed an electrically controlled dowser unit and the electric driving motor for the film actuating mech- :7 anism wherein said circuit is automatically broken or interrupted and remains in this condition at all times when the machine is inoperative, said circuit including an automatic switch which is shifted to open position upon failure of the machine or breakage of the film and wherein said circuit also includes a manually operable circuit closing switch for bridging the automatic switch in. order that the machine may be started.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a fire preventing device for moving picture machines of the aforementioned character which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, efficient in its use and may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further obj ects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following I specification, taken in connection with the accompaying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate correspondin parts throughout the several views, an wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a conventional motion picture projecting machine with the device constituting this invention mounted in position thereon, the head of said machine being shown with one of the side plates removed therefrom.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation with the cover plate removed from the automatic switch housing. I

- Figure 3 is a detail view in elevation of the automatic switch with the cover plate removed from the housing therefor.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3 and further showing a portion of the automatic switch actuating mechanism.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view ofthe automatic switch actuating mechanism. located above the aperture plate of the machine head in inoperative position. H

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with one of the actuating means for the switch in shifted or operative position.

Figure 7 is a View in side elevation showing the elements seen in Figures 5 and 6 shifted to operative position by the other means em bodied in this portion of the invention for opening the automatic switch.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of one of the upper film engaging elements.

Figure 9 is an enlarge-d detail view in perspective of another of the elements embodied in the upper switch actuating mechanism.

Figure 10 is a detail view in top plan of still another of the elements embodied in the upperswitch actuating mechanism.

Figure 11 is a detail View showing the auto- I matic switch operating mechanism which is mounted below the aperture plate of the machine head.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing another actuating means associated with the lower switch actuating device.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail View in perspective showing the counterweighted lever forming a part of the lower switch actuating mechanism.

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the rocker shaft which is actuated by the lever seen in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is an enlarged detail view in perspective showing the film actuated lever which engages with the weighted ends of the lever shown in detail in Figure 13, as seen in Figure 11 of the drawings.

Figure 16 is a detail view in perspective of the rod which is connected for actuation to the lower switch actuating mechanism and engages with the automatic switch to operate the same.

Figure 17 is a view infront elevation of the dowser unit with the cover plate removed therefrom- Figure 18 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 18-18 of Figure 17 Figure 19 is a sectional view showing the lower end portion of the dowser unit and taken substantially on the line 19-19 of Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a sectional view showing a slightly modified form of lower automatic switch actuating mechanism.

Figure 21 is a; diagrammatic view of the drawings and the same comprises the usual upper double sprocket 7 under which the film 8 from the upper magazine 5 is trained, said double sprocket 7 being driven and constituting means for drawing the film from said magazine. After leaving the sprocket 7 the film is directed upwardly and then downwardly to form an upper loop 9 and said'film is then threaded between the usual aperture plate and the spring controlled horizontally slidable gate 10 and is then engaged with the usual intermittent sprocket 11 and then is formed into a lower loop 12 and is then trained over the lower driven sprocket 13 from which it passes downwardly through the guide roller 14 on to a reel mounted in the lower magazine 6.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, a housing or casing 15 is rigidly mounted on the inner side of the head 4 adjacent the upper ends thereof and in spaced relation thereto through the medium of the screws 16 and the spacing collars 17. The front of the housing is closed by a detachable cover plate 18, as seen in Figure 1. A shaft 19 is mounted for rotation through, the rear wall 20 of the housing 15 and rigidly mounted on the inner portion of said shaft 19 is a platform or base 21 from which extends opposed pairs of upstanding resilient clamping arms 22-which embrace a mercury switch 23 therebetween. Conductor wires 24 and 25 have one end extending into the mercury tube or switch 23 in spaced relation to form contact points adapted to be electrically connected together through the medium of the mercury contained in the tube 23 when said tube is disposed at an inclination to cause themercury to gravitate toward the contacts, as will be understood. The opposite ends of the wires 24 and 25 are connected to binding posts 26 embedded in the insulating block 27 and electrically connected with the conductor wires 28 and 29.

As best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, a counterweighted lever 30 has its intermediate portion fixed on the outer portion of the shaft 19 between the rear wall 20 of the housing 15 and the adjacent portion of the head 4. The lever 30 extends inwardly beyond the inner end wall of the switch housing jacent side wall of the head 4, as best seen in Figures and of the drawings. The supporting extension for the shaft 34 is designated by the reference numeral 36. A flat metallic plate 37 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 34 on the opposite side of the supporting extension 36 from the arm 33 and said plate has a weight 38 mounted in its free end portion. As illustrated to advantage in Fig ure 1, the plate 37 extends inwardly over the loop 9 formed in the strip of film 8. The plate 37 is adapted to rest on an inwardly projecting pin or lug40 mounted on the horizontally disposed portion of a bell crank lever 41 mounted for rotation on the shaft 34 at a point intermediate said plate 37 and the supporting extension 36 of the base 35. The bell crank lever 41 is illustrated in detail in Figure 9 of the drawings. The opposite end of the bell crank 41 is adapted to engage with the inner side of the plate 42 which is a part of the conventional head 4. A sector plate 43 is pivotally mounted, as at 44 on the base plate 35 and, as illustrated to'advantage in Figure 8 of the drawings the upper portion of the sector plate 43 has rigidly mounted thereon an elongated pin or arm 45 which projects inwardly beneath the loop 9 formed in the film 8, A link 46 operatively connects the lower end of the bell crank lever 41 with the lower portion of the sector plate 43.

As best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings the end portion of the lever 30 which projects beyond the links 32 is operatively connected to the supporting arm 47 of the governor actuated automatic drop shutter 48 mounted for vertical sliding movement on the aperture plate of the head 4 through the medium of a flexible chain 49. It may be well to here call attention to the fact that the platform or base 21'is mounted off center on the shaft 19 in order that the ends thereof to which the contact wires 24 and 25 extend will overbalance the opposite ends and cause the mercury in the tube to gravitate toward the contact in a manner to close the gap therebetween. While any suitable means may be utilized to limit the swinging movement of the mercury switch by reason of this off center mounting thereof, I have found it expedient to dispose the arm 30 and the stop collar 17 thereabove in such a manner that said lever 30 will engage with said stop collar. As illustrated to advantage in Figuresl, 11 and 12 of the drawings, a film actuated operating mechanism for the mercury switch is provided below the intermittent sprocket 11 and comprises a counter-weighted lever 50 pivot ally supported on the arm 51 of a plate 52 which is bolted to the base plate 53 of the head 4. A lever 54 is pivotally mounted, as at 55 to the adjacent vertical'wall of the head 4 and has its free lower end engaged with the counterweighted end 56 of the lever 50. The lever 54 is illustrated in detail in Figure 15 of the drawings and Figure 13 of said drawings illustrates the counterweighted lever 50. It may be well to here mention that the weighted end of the lever 50 is for the purpose of counter-balancing the switch operating links and rod secured to its opposite end Which will be presently described. The lever 54 is provided with an upward extension 57 which terminates in a substantially right angularly disposed end portion 58 which extends horizontally within the lower loop 12 formed in the film below the intermittent sprocket 11 and adjacent said film, as seen to advantage in Figures 2, 11 and 1 of the drawings. A rocker shaft 59 is rotatably mounted in bearing bracket 60 secured to the forward side of the head 4 at the bottom thereof and fixed on said shaft adjacent its opposite end is a pair of outwardly extending arms 61 and 62, as illustrated in detail by Figure 14 of the drawings. The free end portion of the arm 61 is perforated and bifurcated for pivotally connecting the lower end of a link 63 thereto which has its opposite end pivotally connected to the adjacent end of the lever 50. The free end portion of the arm 62 is also perforated and bifurcated to pivotally connect the lower end of an upwardly extending switch operating rod 64 thereto which extendsupwardly and slidably through the bottom wall of the switch housing 15 and terminates in a right angularly disposed end portion 65 engageable with the switch platform or base 21 in a manner to shift the mercury switch to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings when said rod is actuated.

A bracket 66 is also secured on the base portion 53 of the head 4 rearwardly of the bracket 51 for pivotally supporting an arm 67 having a right angularly disposed roller 68 mounted for rotation on its free end portion adapted to rest against the normally taut portion of the film which extends between the lower drive sprocket 13 of the head and the guide rollers 14 of the lower magazine 6, I

as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

As seen in Figure 1, a dowser unit designated generally by the reference numeral 69 is supported in elevated position by an upstanding bracket 76 on the base 1 intermediate the lamp housing 3 and the head 4. Referring to Figures 17, 18 and 19, it will be seen that the dowser unit 69 comprises a flat metallic, substantially rectangular plate 71 having a circular opening 72 in its lower portion for the passage of the light beam from the lamp house 3 to the aperture plate of the head 4. On the side adjacent the head 4, the plate 71 is provided with a channel forming flange 73 which extends across the lower :end thereof and up the opposite vertical sides thereof and terminates in spaced relation to the upper end of said plate. A cushioning strip 74 is disposed in the horizontal portion of the channel 73 which ex tends across the lower end of the plate 71 and a substantially rectangular flat metallic dowser 75 has its opposite vertical marginal portion disposed in the vertical portion of the channel for slidably mounting said dowser on the plate 71. A latch housing 76 is mounted on the upper portion of the side of the plate 71 which is opposed to the head 4 and said latch housing comprises an upper wall 77, a bottom wall 78, end Walls 79 and 80, and a removable front wall 81. As best seen in Figure 18 of the drawings, the bottom wall 78 has. its inner edge disposed in spaced relation to the plate 71 to permit the passage of the dowser 75 into the latch housing 76.

bracket 82 depends from the upper wall 77 of the latch housing and has pivotally connected to its lower end portion, the intermediate portion of a counterweighted latch arm 83 provided with the weighted end portion 84 from which depends a latch hook 85. The opposite end of the lever 83 is provided with a downwardly ofl'set horizontally extending extension 86 adapted to be engaged by the headed core 87 of the solenoid 88 which depends from the upper wall 77 of the latch housing 76. Electric current for energizing the solenoid 88 is supplied over the conductor wires 89 and 90 secured to binding posts 91 mounted on an insulating block 92 on the upper wall 77 and to which binding posts the conductor wires 93 and 94 are electrically connected and extend to said solenoid 88. It may be here mentioned that the solenoid 88 is interposed in the electric circuit which ineludes-the mercury switch 23. An adjustable stop member 95 is mounted in the bottom wall 78 of the latch housing 76 for engagement with the adjacent end portion of the lever 83 for limiting the swinging movement of said lever in this direction.

A roller 96 is mounted on the outer side of the dowser 75 and is adapted to travel in a slot 97 which extends longitudinally in the adjacent end portion of a dowser actuating lever 98 whichis pivotally mounted, as at 99 on the channel forming flange 73 of the late -71. Also mounted on the outer side 0 the the opening 72 in the plate 71, as clearly illustrated in Figures 17 and 18 of the drawings.

Referring to Figure 21 of the drawings, the reference numeral 102 designates the driving motor for the film actuating mechanism in the head 4 and it will be seen that said motor is interposed in the circuit which includes the mercury switch 23 and the solenoid 88. Also.

interposed in this circuit in a manner to bridge the mercury switch 23 when said mercury switch is open, is a spring controlled manually operable switch 103 which is normally maintained in open position and the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

head 4 and the lower magazine 6 and mounted for rotation in this housing is the drlvlng sprocket 107 which rotates in unison with the lower drive sprocket'13 of the head 4. The strip of film 8 extends loosely between the sprockets 13 and 107 for reasons well known in the art. A guide roller 108 is also disposed in the housing 106 between the sprocket 107 and the sprocket 13 over which the film travels. From the drive sprocket 107 the film is trainedover a roller 109 and passes therefrom downwardly between the guide rollers 14 and into the lower magazine 6. As before stated, the film is wound on a reel in the lower magazine 6 and the portion of the film between said reel and the roller 109 is kept taut. The portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 20 comprising thisinvention includes a lever or arm 110 pivotally mounted on the bracket 111 on the bottom wall of the housing 106. v The free end portion of the arm 110 has mounted for rotation thereon the right angularly disposed roller 112 which is adapted to rest against the portion of the film which extends from the roller 109 into: the lower magazine.

A lever 113 is pivotally mounted, at an intermediate portion thereof, on the upstanding bracket 114 in the housing 106 and the inner end portion of said lever extends beneath the roller 112. The opposite end portion of the lever 113 projects outwardly through an opening 115 of the housing 106 and has pivotally connected to its outer end portion the vertically disposed rod or bar 116 which has an intermediate portion pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm 61 of the rocket shaft 59 as indicated at 117. The upper end portion of the rod 116 is pivotally connected, as at 118 to the outer end of the counterweighted lever 50.

In operation, the main switch 104 is first closed. It is understood that the mercury switch 23 is always open when the machine is inoperative and therefore, no electric current can pass through the circuit even though the main switch 104 is closed. To energize the motor 102 to start the machine as well as energizing the solenoid 88, the switch 103 is closed and held closed in a manner to bridge the mercury switch 23 and cause the current to pass through the circuit. As soon as the Y film driving mechanism in the head 4 attains sufiicient speed, the automatic shutter 48 rises and permits the mercury switch 23 to gravitate to closed position. In this manner the manually operated switch 103 is cut out and the electric current flows from the source of supply through the main switch 104, the solenoid 88 which is energized thereby, the mercury switch 23 and the driving motor 102. The operator then releases the switch 103, and the same, being spring controlled, automatically returns to open position. He then swings the lever 98 of the dowser unit 69 downwardly in a manner to raise the dowser 7 5 above the opening 72 in the plate 71.

When the solenoid 88 is energized, the core 87 is attracted thereinto and away from the extension 86 of the lever 83 and the counterweighted end portion 84 of said lever causes the same to swing downwardly by gravity in a manner to engage the latch hook 85 under the pin 101 to maintain the dowser 75 in raised position. lt should be here mentioned that the weight 38 on the plate 37 is heavy enough to maintain the elements 32, 33, 37, 43, 45 and 46 in inoperative position, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. It should also be stated that the combined weight of the arms 61, 62 link 63 and the rod 64 is sulficient to overbalance the counterweight portion 56 of the lever 50 and maintain the upper end portion 65 of the rod 64 out of engagement with the mercury switch 23.

If for any reason the film driving mechanism of the head 4 should stop, the automatic governor controlled shutter 48 will drop in the usual manner, as will be understood. When the shutter 48 drops, the lever is swung downwardly through the medium of the chain 49 connected to the free end portion thereof and the shutter arm 47 and the mercury switch 23 is swung to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings with the result that the mercury therein will gravitate away from the contact point and the switch will thus be opened. When this occurs, the motor 102 and the solenoid 88 are deenergized. Deenergization of the solenoid 88 releases the core 87 and permits the same to drop on the extension 86 of the lever 83 in a manner to overbalance the counterweighted end portion 84 thereof and swing the latch hook 85 out of engagement with the pin 101 to release the dowser 75 and permit the sameto drop by gravity over the opening 72 in the plate 71. The fall of the dowser 75 is cushioned and silenced by the material 74 in the channel 73 at the lower end of the plate 71.

Should the film break between the upper drive sprocket 7 and the intermittent sproc et 11 and pile up or accumulate in the upper portion of the head 4, said film will engage the lower side of the plate 37 in a manner to swing said plate upwardly and move the mercury switch 23 to open position through the medium of the link 32 the arm 33 and the shaft 34 which operatively engage the outer end portion of the lever 30 which extends through the slot 31 of said link 32. It should be here mentioned that the slot 31 permits the lever 30 to be-swung downwardly to move the mercury switch 23 to open position when the automatic shutter 48 drops independently of the link 32 and the arm 33.

Should the film passing under the sprocket 7 be stripped thus causing the loop 9 therein to be eliminated by the continued feeding action of the intermittent sprocket 11, said film is drawn downwardly into engagement with the pin or arm -on the segment 43 rocking said segment on its pivotal support 44 and actuating the bell crank 41 throu h the medium of the connecting link 46. T e bell crank lever in turn swings the plate 37 upwardly through the medium of the projectin g lug 40 and in this manner the mercury switch 23 is shifted to open position for deenergizing the motor 102 and the solenoid 88.

Should the film stop feeding at the intermittent sprocket 11 and continue to move at the lower drive sprocket 13 in a manner to eliminate the loop 12, said film will engage with the angularly disposed portion 58 of the lever 54 in a manner to swing said lever 54 downwardly into engagement with the adjacent end portion of the lever to swing the outer end portion of said lever 50 upwardly and rock the shaft 59 in a manner to raise. the rod 64 into engagement with the mercury switch 23 and in this manner also said mercury switch is shifted to open position.

Should the film break between the lower sprocket 13 and the guide roller 14 of the lower magazine 6, the comparatively heavy roller 68 will be permitted to swing down wardly with its supporting arm 67 on ,to the adjacent end of the lever 50 in a manner to swing said lever upwardly to lift the rod 64 and move the mercury switch to open position.

Referring to Figure 20 which illustrates the slightly modified form of the last mentioned mercury switch shifting mechanism, it will be seen that the roller 112 will swing downwardly, together with its supporting arm 110, onto the adjacent end of the lever 113 in a manner to swing said lever upwardly and raise the bar 116 and elevate the rod 64 through the medium of the arm 61, rocker shaft 59 and the arm 62.

The reference numeral 120 designates a. coil spring which encircles the supporting pivot of the lever 54 and has one end engaged with a conventional element 121 of the head 4 and has its opposite end engaged with the extension 56 in a manner to yieldingly maintain said lever 54 in inoperative position as indicated in full line in Figure 11 of the drawings.

It is believed that the many advantagse of a fire preventing device for moving picture machines constructed in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it

is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be had which Will fall within the scope of the invention is claimed.

WVhat is claimed is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a moving picture machine having an aperture plate and electric motor driven means for feeding a film strip past the aperture plate, said film strip having a loop therein above the aperture plate, the electric circuit to the motor having a control switch interposed therein, a shaft journaled for rotation on the moving picture machine, a plate fixed on the shaft and projecting therefrom above the loop for engagement and actuation by the film strip when the loop is increased, a bell crank lever mounted for independent swinging movement on the shaft, a lug mounted 011 one end portion of the bell crank lever and engageable with the plate for operatively connecting the shaft to the bell crank lever for actuation thereby upon swinging movement of the bell crank lever in one direction, a member mounted on the moving picture and disposed within the loop for engagement and actuation by the film strip when the loop is substantially eliminated, means operatively connecting the bell crank lever to the member for actuation thereby, and means operatively connecting the control switch to the shaft for actuation by said shaft.

2. In a device of the character described,

a the combination of a moving picture machine having an aperture plate and electric motor driven means for feeding a film strip past the aperture plate, said film strip having a loop therein above the aperture plate, the electric circuit to the motor having a control switch interposed therein, a shaft mounted for rotation on the moving picture machine, a plate fixed on the shaft and projecting therefrom above the lop for engagement and actuation by the film strip when the loop is increased, a bell crank lever mounted for independent swinging movement on the shaft, a lug projecting from one end portion of the bell crank lever and engageable with the plate in a manner to operatively connect the shaft to the bell crank lever for actuation thereby upon swinging movement of the bell crank lever in one direction, a plate mounted for swinging movement on the moving picture machine, an arm mounted on the second named plate and projecting therefrom into the loop for engagement and actuation by 7 electric circuit to the motor having a control switch interposed therein, a shaft mounted for rotation on the moving picture machine, a plate fixed on the shaft and projecting therefrom above the loop for engagement and actuation by the film strip when the loop is increased, a bell crank lever mounted for independent swinging movement on the shaft, a lug projecting from one end portion of the bell crank lever and engageable with the plate in a manner to operatively connect the shaft to the bell crank lever for actuation thereby upon swinging movement of the bell crank lever in one direction, a plate mounted for swinging movement on the moving picture machine, an arm mounted on the second named plate and projecting therefrom into the loop for engagement and actuation by the film strip when the loop is substantially eliminated, a linkoperatively connecting the bell crank lever to the second named plate for actuation thereby, and means operatively connecting the control switch to the shaft for actuation by said shaft, said means compristhe aperture plate, said film strip having a loop therein above the aperture plate, the circuit to the motor having a control switch interposed therein, a shaft mounted for rotation on the moving picture machine, a plate fixed on the shaft and projecting therefrom above the loop for engagement and actuation by the film strip when the loop is increased, a bell crank lever mounted for independent swinging movement on the shaft, a lug projecting from one end portion of the bell crank lever and engageable with the plate in a manner to operatively connect the shaft to the bell crank lever for actuation by said bell crank lever in one direction, a shiftable member mounted on the moving picture machine and extending into the loop for engagement and actuation by the film 'driven means for feeding a film strip past strip when the loop is substantially elimi: nated, means operatively connecting the bell crank lever to said member for actuation; thereby, a counterweight mounted on the free end portion of the plate for yieldingly maintaining said plate and the member in inoperative position, and means operatively connecting the control switch to the shaft for actuation by said shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN C. PFEIL. 

